The other day, I was reading one of the old Dollar Comics issues of World's Finest -- a complete run of these is one of my current collecting quests -- and in a Hawkman story, I encountered a familiar face. The character, an elderly fortune teller named Trixie Magruder, seemed like a quintessential J.M. DeMatteis creation -- lighthearted, but with a spiritual edge. But reference was made to her once owning a boarding house in Metropolis, and I realized she was the Forever People's landlady about three panels before a footnote made reference to a seance she did with the FP and Deadman in Forever People #9.
So far, I haven't found any other appearances of Ms. Magruder outside of this story and Forever People -- the GCD lists an issue of Superman, but that's a German edition reprinting the World's Finest Hawkman story.
But it got me to wondering -- do you have any favorite appearances by supporting characters in other books? Justice League doesn't necessarily count -- when Flash is in the story, it's not that unusual to see Iris Allen, even if it's not her "home" book. And I'm sure some of the bigger supporting characters travel regularly -- Lois Lane, Alfred Pennyworth, etc. -- although their appearances are still notable. But I'm sure there are some obscure supporting characters who pop in to another title ever now and then, and I'd love to hear about 'em!
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The first example that comes to mind (prompted, no doubt, by your example of Trixie Magruder), if Randu Singh, originall a supporting character in Jack Kirby's The Demon who later became a supporting character in Kobra.
Well, Maggie Sawyer, a captain in the Metropolis Police Department who frequently showed up in the Superman books, moved to Gotham City and became part of the Gotham Central cast.
And now she's part of Batwoman, at least for the time being. Cool.
And great call on Randu, Jeff! Those are two series I've only read an odd back issue of, so I don't think I ever noticed that.
I'd love to see some of the Deadman supporting cast mix it up in a Nightwing story. (Actually. I think that might have happened during Flashpoint, but I'm not sure.)
I have the feeling there’s a really obvious one I’m forgetting, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. In the meantime, what about Cain and Abel, the former hosts of DC’s Houses of Mystery and Secrets, who later became supporting characters in Sandman?
Ben Urich was introduced by Frank Miller in Daredevil, but has since been used frequently in various Spider-titles over the years. Similarly, other members of Spider-Man’s Daily Bugle supporting cast have been used utilized in Daredevil as well as other titles. For example, in the Stern/Byrne “Captain America for President” issue, J.J.J. and Robbie Robertson discuss the possibility of endorsing Cap’s bid should he decide to run.
I think that’s what I was thinking of.
Ah man you stole mine!
Jeff of Earth-J said:
There are a few characters that feel like they're supporting characters to the universe as a whole, not a particular book. I think Dr. Jenet Klyburn was introduced in Superman, but I feel like she's more a part of the DCU as a whole. (But maybe that's just an impression I get because S.T.A.R. Labs was adopted throughout the DCU -- I'm sure Jenet traveled now and then, but maybe she stayed largely in the Superbooks?)
Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod) said:
I agree, and rejected several (such as Nick Fury) on that basis.
Rick Jones.
I thought it was an interesting transition for James Jesse (The Trickster) to go from a villain in Flash to basically a supporting character in Blue Devil.
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